This is what it had come to. He stood outside, looking at the shining, gleaming, beckoning poster.

“Join the Academy. See the Universe.”

Larry sighed. Stepped inside.

“I’d like to.”

“You’d what?”

“I’d like to. Join the Academy. See the universe.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It never is.”

“Do you have any special skills?”

“Oh, sure. I’ve been a shovel boy at a carnival. I cleaned up discarded popcorn containers at the 3-D plex. Actually, it’s kind of funny. I come from a long line of custodial workers, but I know I’m destined for something more. Even got my degree in advanced rocketry! There’s a bright new future waiting for me, I just know it!”

The man in the shiny uniform with the soaring space wings gleaming ever so brightly from his breast shuffled a few papers, punched a few buttons on his terminal, then smiled.

“You know what? We just might have an opening…”